SEPTEMBER 12, 1857

Prologue to the Sinking of the S.S. Central America

If your U.S. History is a bit rusty, you may not be aware of the drama of the Gold Rush years, drama that led up to the S.S. Central America’s tragic sinking in the Atlantic Ocean.

Background Information

On its way from Aspinwall Panama to New York City in 1857 this steamship carried 578 passengers and crew, millions of dollars’ worth of commercial gold-rush cargo, personal wealth and private possessions.

However, on the night of September 12, 1857, a devastating hurricane ended the lives of 425 men: 153 people were rescued but their lives were forever changed.

The S.S. Central America Tragedy

September 12, 1857

578

passengers and crew aboard the legendary steamship.

Millions

in California gold rush cargo and personal wealth lost to the deep.

425

lives lost during the hurricane on the night of September 12.

153

rescued, their lives forever changed by the harrowing ordeal.

An excerpt from the memoirs of one of the survivors

"At 10 minutes of 8 o'clock Captain Herndon took position on the wheel houses with his second officer and fired rockets downward, the usual signal that we were sinking rapidly. This was a fearful moment, and must have been also to the ladies on board the Marine (the women and children who were evacuated on lifeboats), who understood the signal, all of whom had husbands or friends on board. The ship immediately after, at 8' o'clock on Saturday evening, sank... stern foremost."

— Thomas W. Badger

The Gold Rush Story

But why were these people on the ship, where were they going, where had they been, and how was the California Gold Rush the common element in their destinies?

Read the gold rush story from the beginning

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